Noel Buck Bio
Noel Arthur Coleman Buck (born April 5, 2005) is an American professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes. Born and raised in Arlington, Massachusetts, he came through the New England Revolution academy before representing England at multiple youth international levels. A central midfielder comfortable operating between the lines, Buck entered professional soccer at a young age and quickly became one of the most talked-about prospects in Major League Soccer.
Standing 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) tall, Buck combines technical passing with the stamina required to break up play and transition his team forward. After rising through the New England development pipeline, he spent time on loan in England with Southampton before returning to MLS and being traded to the San Jose Earthquakes in 2025. He holds both American and British citizenship and continues to build his résumé in top-flight soccer.
Early Life and Background
Noel Arthur Coleman Buck was born on April 5, 2005, in Arlington, Massachusetts, in the United States. He grew up in a household with strong ties to the United Kingdom; his father is English and his mother is American, and through a Welsh grandmother he is also eligible to represent Wales in international football. This mixed heritage later shaped his international choices and continues to define his connection to both sides of the Atlantic.
From an early age, Buck showed an interest in soccer, joining New England Futbol Club as a young player. In 2017, at the age of 12, he moved into the New England Revolution academy, one of the more established development systems in the northeastern United States. There, he progressed steadily through the age groups, training alongside some of the top young talents in the region and refining the technical and tactical skills that would soon earn him a senior opportunity.
Path to Soccer
Buck’s pathway into professional soccer followed a familiar youth-to-first-team route. After several years in the Revolution academy, he was integrated into the club’s USL League One affiliate, New England Revolution II, during the 2021 season. That move gave him valuable senior minutes against grown professionals while still allowing him to train daily with one of MLS’s most respected youth setups.
On April 10, 2021, Buck made his debut for Revolution II, starting against Fort Lauderdale CF and showing enough composure to remain a regular in the squad. His performances with the affiliate team convinced the Revolution first-team staff that he was ready for the next step, and on January 18, 2022, he signed a homegrown player contract with New England Revolution. The deal confirmed his status as one of the club’s most promising academy products in recent memory.
Noel Buck Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Buck’s earliest senior minutes came with New England Revolution II in 2021, where he featured as a teenager in USL League One. He used the platform to adjust to the speed and physicality of adult soccer, demonstrating a calmness in possession that would later become a hallmark of his game. The experience gave him a clear sense of what professional training and match preparation demanded on a daily basis.
After signing his homegrown deal in January 2022, Buck began rotating between the first team and the reserve side. His first MLS goal arrived on September 4, 2022, in a 3–0 win over New York City FC, a strike that made him the second youngest scorer in New England Revolution history behind only Diego Fagúndez. The moment confirmed that his development was on a steep upward curve.
New England Revolution Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Over the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Buck established himself as a regular contributor in the Revolution midfield. On March 25, 2023, he scored an 88th-minute game-winning goal against D.C. United at Audi Field, assisted by Gustavo Bou, announcing his ability to influence matches in the closing stages of tight contests. Coaches trusted him with both starting and substitute roles, and he rewarded that trust with consistent performances.
By the 2024 campaign, Buck had become a fixture in the squad and a player whose ball progression the team relied upon. His vision, range of passing, and willingness to take responsibility in central areas set him apart from many of his contemporaries, and his performances attracted attention from clubs abroad.
Southampton Loan (2024–2025)
On August 30, 2024, Buck joined Premier League side Southampton on a short-term loan that ran until January 2025. He was assigned to the club’s Under-21 squad, where he trained in a high-intensity environment and tested himself against one of the most demanding developmental pathways in English football. The loan provided a valuable window into European daily training habits, tactical expectations, and the speed of the game across the Atlantic.
Buck returned to the New England Revolution on January 6, 2025, having gained fresh perspective and experience. The spell, although brief in senior minutes, marked an important milestone in his personal and professional growth.
San Jose Earthquakes Era (2025–Present)
On April 23, 2025, Buck was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes for a fee of up to $650,000, signaling a fresh start on the West Coast. He joined San Jose Earthquakes II as well, keeping a pathway open between the reserve side and the first team as he settled into a new city, coaching staff, and locker room. The move reflected both club belief in his long-term upside and a desire for a change of scenery after several years in the Northeast.
Wearing jersey number 21, Buck has begun integrating into the Earthquakes’ midfield, where his passing range and ability to link defense with attack are expected to feature prominently. The early stages of his San Jose chapter are focused on building chemistry with new teammates and adapting to the tactical ideas of the coaching staff.
Driving Style and Strengths
Buck is best described as a composed central midfielder whose strengths lie in distribution, game reading, and positional discipline. He is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, progressing play through the lines, and contributing to defensive shape when his team is out of possession. Coaches have valued his willingness to take responsibility in tight matches, an attribute reflected in late, decisive contributions such as his winner at D.C. United in 2023.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Buck’s early career, his first MLS goal against New York City FC in September 2022 stands out, making him the second youngest scorer in Revolution history. His game-winning strike at Audi Field in 2023, his loan to Premier League side Southampton in 2024, and his 2025 trade to the San Jose Earthquakes each mark key steps in a fast-developing professional journey.
Noel Buck Career Wins
Noel Buck’s career to this point has been defined more by development, milestones, and high-value transfers than by trophy collections. The midfielder’s individual achievements include becoming the second youngest scorer in New England Revolution history and earning call-ups to England youth teams. As a young professional still in the early chapters of his career, his wins are best measured in personal records, selection honors, and significant transfer fees rather than silverware.
New England Revolution Highlights
Across his time with the Revolution first team from 2022 to early 2025, Buck built a reputation as a reliable young midfielder. His first MLS goal against New York City FC, his late winner against D.C. United in 2023, and his consistent selection in a competitive midfield all highlighted his growing influence at the club.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond MLS, Buck’s loan to Southampton offered exposure to a top European developmental environment, while his appearances for England U19 and U20 teams reflected his standing among his age group internationally. Combined, these experiences represent meaningful wins in terms of exposure, development, and reputation.
Noel Buck Family
Family Background and Heritage
Buck was raised in Arlington, Massachusetts, in a family with strong international roots. His father is English and his mother is American, and he has a Welsh grandmother, giving him eligibility to represent England, the United States, or Wales at international level. He ultimately chose to represent England at youth level, making appearances for the U19 and U20 sides.
Personal Life
Buck holds both American and British passports, reflecting his dual heritage and the international nature of his upbringing. Off the field, he keeps a relatively low public profile, focusing on his development as a professional footballer. He is known to be active on social media, where fans can follow his career through his official Instagram account.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a year of transition for Noel Buck. After returning to New England from his Southampton loan in January, he was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes on April 23, 2025, for a fee of up to $650,000, marking one of the more notable moves involving a young American midfielder in the early part of the season. The trade represented both a fresh start and a significant vote of confidence from the Earthquakes’ front office.
Since arriving in San Jose, Buck has been integrating into a new midfield group and adjusting to the team’s tactical approach under the coaching staff. Wearing number 21, he has continued to feature for the club alongside appearances with San Jose Earthquakes II as he builds rhythm and chemistry with new teammates. The early-season storyline has been one of adaptation, with the focus on consistency, minutes, and on-field chemistry.
Looking ahead, the outlook for the remainder of 2025 centers on whether Buck can lock down a regular starting role with the Earthquakes and translate his development into consistent MLS performances. With a Premier League loan already on his résumé and an international youth career behind him, the season represents an important opportunity to establish himself as a long-term MLS contributor and a player to watch in the years ahead.